Volunteer
Our Volunteers are Special!
If you would like to volunteer, please contact Arden at the Center to schedule an appointment. You will be asked to fill out an application and provide personal, work and/or school references. New volunteers will start their volunteer position with a three month trial period. Regular volunteer positions may require a Criminal Background Check.
Arden Williams
267.880.5020
awilliams@buckscounty.org
Volunteer Opportunities/Events Coming Soon…
(Please contact Arden Williams to pre-register)
Volunteer Work Days-from 9 am to 2 pm (rain or shine)
Saturdays: July 1st, Aug. 5th, Sept. 2nd, and Oct. 7th
Silver Lake Nature Center is now offering art/creative workshops with community service opportunities.
LEARN-a skill for yourself… CARE- by making items to… SHARE-with non-profit organizations
Are you interested in learning a new skill for yourself that could turn into a hobby?
These classes will run once a month on the 3rd Monday (7/17, 8/21, 9/18) from 10 to 2 in the Nature Center auditorium. You must be a SLNC member to participate.
July’s topic will be learning to make a lap/crib quilt. We will be working with Quilts for Kids. A non-profit organization, Quilts for Kids will provide both the free pre-cut fabric kits and an instructor to assist you through the process.. This first class will take place at their location : 494 Lincoln Highway Fairless Hills, PA 19030 Phone 215-295-5484. The completed quilts will be donated to children’s hospitals and shelters across America. W.W.W.quiltsforkids.org.
**You will need to bring your own sewing machine and thread and purchase the batting (crib sized which is available at Walmart and Jo-Anns). You must be a SLNC member to participate. If you have further questions please call the Center at 215-785-1177 and ask for Jo’Ann or Arden.
OPEN VOLUNTEER POSITIONS
Greeter(s)
We are seeking a retired, mature, and welcoming person to be the first face of the Center; greeting visitors, answering phones, and running the cash register. Available morning shifts: Afternoon shifts: (2 pm- 5 pm) Saturdays or (12 pm – 4 pm) Sundays
Trail and Ground Maintenance Crew
We are looking for volunteers who are willing to regularly maintain the ponds and flower gardens on the preserve. You would be able to set your own schedule and work at your own pace. There is no replacement for the joy and sense of accomplishment you can experience from tending a garden or maintaining a pond habitat.
Kayak Assistant
Needed to assist the instructor with set up, breakdown, and the monitoring of program equipment and class participants during the session on and off the water.
Animal caregivers
Needed to spend 1 or 2 hours a week caring for the exhibit animals.
Volunteers of the Quarter:
Eileen Swank
Eileen Swank, aka “Cinders”, is , among other things, a Greeter and Educational Program Assistant here at the Center. She got her nickname as a Girl Scout Leader. Cinders works with Patti Ann to lead the campfire portions of our programs for scouting groups, birthday parties and night hikes. Having spent years as a girl scout and then a Scout Leader herself, she has developed an incredible knowledge base to teach young scouts about campfire safety and is a vivid storyteller! Recently she has made a special effort to take time to handle our shy 7 foot long Pine-Bull snake; Pine-Bull has benefitted greatly from her gentle attention. Cinders is an avid quilter and has created several beautiful nature themed quilted banners that we use at events and for our programs. She genuinely cares for the visitors, animals, volunteers and staff here, and she is an integral part of our community. What really makes Eileen stand out is her willingness to be flexible and responsive to help the Center wherever there is a need.
Thank you Cinders for being caring, adventurous and flexible!
Volunteer Accomplishments:
Volunteers Anthony Garwood, Barbara Campbell, and Robert Pearson combined their talents and efforts to add two new benches to our grounds. One is located outside of the Earthship and situated so visitors can look out over the meditation garden. The other bench is on the observation deck to provide a 360 degree sitting view of the landscape.
Part of our volunteer base are community service participants. some are completing a court mandate, some are fulfilling educational requirements, and still others are working toward earning badges for civic organizations. No matter their reason for being here, they come out to join us with the spirit of working hard to earn their merit. Much of their work over the last three months has included mulching the trails, removing litter from Delhaas Woods, and joining me at other community sites to help like-minded organizations complete their volunteer work day tasks.
So please do join up with us and see what amazing things you can do while you’re here!
If you would like to volunteer,
Please contact Arden at the Center.
267.880.5020
awilliams@buckscounty.org
PA Master Naturalist program offered at SLNC in the Fall of 2017
There are several unpaid internships and volunteer opportunities available.
Free Interpretive Backpack Tours!
Ever wanted to have a guided nature walk but there is no naturalist available? Scout Julia Singer has created nature-themed self-guided tours in a backpack that you can “rent” for free at the Center. Just ask for the Kids Scavenger Hunt, Trees and Birds, or General Tour backpack, then head out on the trails to discover the natural world!
Arden Williams: Coordinator of Volunteers and Administrative Assistant
If you would like to volunteer,
Please contact Arden at the Center.
267-880-5020
awilliams@buckscounty.org